Sports wire

Finland scored three times in the third period and defeated the United States 4-1 yesterday in a Pool B preliminary-round game at the world junior championship in Edmonton, Alberta.

HOCKEY

Finland upsets United States at world junior championship

Finland scored three times in the third period and defeated the United States 4-1 yesterday in a Pool B preliminary-round game at the world junior championship in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Americans are considered one of the tournament favorites, but now Finland and the U.S. are 1-1 in Pool B. Canada (2-0) defeated the Czech Republic (1-1) 5-0 in the other pool game.

Joel Armia, a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, paced Finland’s offense with two goals and an assist. Mikael Granlund, a first-round selection of the Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators prospect Mikka Salomaki also scored.

Brandon Saad of the U.S. tied the score 19 seconds into the third period, but Armia’s first goal at 10:53 put the Finns ahead to stay.

Finland, which rebounded from an 8-1 loss to Canada to open the tournament, got a tremendous effort in goal by Sami Aittokallio, who made 38 saves.

“Sometimes when you see that 8-1 score, you think we’re going to do the same thing, but you’ve got to give them credit,” U.S. coach Dean Blais said. “Their goaltender played well, they got to the net, and we didn’t get to the net as much as Canada did.”

• ?Four-time U.S. Olympic women’s hockey player Angela Ruggiero announced her retirement.

Ruggiero, 31, made her announcement after 16 years as a defenseman with the national team. She was on each of the four American Olympic teams, totaling 208 points as the team’s most physical player. She appeared in a record 256 games for USA Hockey.

BASEBALL

A-Rod ‘100 percent’ after platelet injections in Germany

The New York Yankees said that third baseman Alex Rodriguez is fine after recently having special treatment on his right knee and left shoulder in Germany.

Rodriguez, 36, had plasma-rich platelet injections following a recommendation from NBA star Kobe Bryant. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team gave its permission after vetting the process.

Cashman said the therapy is in “complete compliance” with WADA and Major League Baseball regulations and that the treatment is performed in the United States; Rodriguez went to the doctor in Germany because he’s at the top of this field.

Rodriguez had surgery on his right knee in July and saw his power drop. He played in 99 games and hit 16 home runs. Cashman said that Rodriguez is “100 percent” now.

Bailey, 27, went 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 24 saves in 2011, but he spent time on the disabled list for the second straight year. He will replace Jonathan Papelbon as Boston’s closer. Papelbon signed a four-year, $50 million free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bailey becomes the fourth key pitcher traded this month by the rebuilding A’s, who dealt starter Trevor Cahill and reliever Craig Breslow to Arizona on Dec. 9 and then sent starter Gio Gonzalez to Washington last Thursday.

Reddick, 24, batted .280 with seven homers and 28 RBI.

LEGAL FILE

Virginia Tech kicker out of jail, but won’t play in Sugar Bowl

Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell was released from jail on bond after he was charged with breaking and entering.

Journell, who was denied bond last week after a Dec. 21 home invasion, was released on a $100,000 secured bond.

Journell, 20, is suspended from the team after he and two others were involved in what police said was a report of a “physical altercation” at a house near downtown. He will miss the Sugar Bowl against Michigan.

— From wire reports

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